Cosmas Ayepa, the Moroto District Secretary for Social Services, noted that the district leadership is only involved during the groundbreaking ceremonies, after which the central government takes control. He explained that the lack of information has made it difficult to monitor these projects.
Authorities in Moroto District have expressed frustration over the failure to monitor projects implemented by the central government due to a lack of information and an established monitoring system. They note that several projects have stalled, citing inadequate community sensitization and the exclusion of district leadership from the implementation process.
Among the projects facing delays are the Moroto remand home in Katikekile Sub-county and the Nakonyen Dam in Tapac Sub-county. In 2020, the government began constructing the Moroto Remand Home for 4.7 billion shillings, funded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The project was originally slated for completion in 2022 but remains incomplete to date.
In 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries, and Fisheries launched the Nakonyen Dam project in Tapac Sub-county, worth 8 billion shillings. The 1.5 square-kilometer valley dam was expected to be completed within 11 months to provide water for livestock and improve the food value chain. However, after three years, the project has stalled, with no contractor present on-site.
Additionally, the Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilience Project built a cross-border animal checkpoint between Uganda and Kenya in 2018, which has remained idle and is now used as accommodation for security officers. Despite these government-funded projects, district officials claim they have not been involved in the implementation process and lack any information regarding the projects' progress.
Cosmas Ayepa, the Moroto District Secretary for Social Services, noted that the district leadership is only involved during the groundbreaking ceremonies, after which the central government takes control. He explained that the lack of information has made it difficult to monitor these projects. Ayepa urged the central government to involve the district leadership in the implementation process so they can assist with monitoring.
He also emphasized the importance of teamwork among district officials to avoid discrimination, which has led to poor performance in the district. Lt. Col. (Rtd) Kibrai Ambako, the Senior Presidential Advisor for Mobilization and Monitoring, visited Karamoja to assess the implementation of government programs and projects.
He found that services had been delivered to the community, with some value for money, but observed that the community lacked awareness and ownership of the projects. Ambak noted that despite the better delivery of services, projects like the Nakonyen Dam have stalled due to a lack of implementing partners and the exclusion of the community and district leadership from the project.
He emphasized that it is the district's responsibility to monitor and follow up on such projects, as they pass through the district. He also pointed out that without proper community sensitization, some projects, such as water facilities, have been abandoned when they break down because the community does not take ownership of them. Ambako urged district leaders to take responsibility for monitoring and sensitizing the community on government programs.
